Favorite dish in paradise

Mayoral Politics: The shopping list of prospective Saipan mayoral candidates increases by the month. The GOP has several prospects, including former Commissioner of Education Henry I. Sablan and James A. Ada.

The democrats and reform would field their own political horses. Others eyeing this post have looked elsewhere to minimize intra-party slugfest. Some positive news, yeah?
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On Rota, incumbent Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona has announced his re-election bid. But his long time colleague, former Senate President Julian S. Calvo, is also interested in the same post. Without a gentlemen’s agreement, a primary is the only avenue to resolve this matter.

I’m not sure who would lift a finger against incumbent Tinian Mayor Francisco Borja. At least the gentleman impresses me as a serious thinker who “…flies alone”. He’s reinstated integrity in an office once roamed by overly indulgent politicians who honed the dangerous agenda of empire building.

A friend likened Mayor Borja to that of an “iced pond, serene and quiet at the surface, but rumbling with substantive current underneath”. Borja has heightened the role of the mayor’s office beyond provincial politics with a set of young proactive staff armed with a visionary plan designed to institute long-term benefits for its young people. This, my friends, is the definition of leadership!

Tourism revitalization

Tourism was the lead industry here up until three years ago. It came tumbling down when the Asian Crisis came slamming into our shores. We weren’t prepared for it. In fact, we played opposum hoping its ravages would disappear when we wake up the next day. It didn’t and it’s still here!
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Former Governor Froilan Tenorio pushed for a tourism revitalization plan. It would have given the hotel district area some major facelifts with emphasis on family themes.
Nobody listened. Well, neighboring Guam took revitalization plans of its own to the hilt.
It spent millions of dollars turning old Tumon into a friendly and family-oriented venue. It serves both visiting and local families in umpteen ways.
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What have we done in this department? More gaudy karaokes around the hotel district area in Garapan? The place needs major facelifting. Unless it is revitalized so it becomes tourist friendly, don’t complaint about more visitors descending on neighboring Guam. Guam has done its homework!
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If anything, Tumon has given that sense of security for both visitors and residents alike. The facelifting included ridding the place of old telephone poles and lines. It’s all underground. It’s replaced by beautiful streetlights and bricks emplaced in walkways as to make strollling from restaurants to mini-shopping malls and other attractions a pleasurable experience. Guam has done its homework!
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It’s not that we haven’t risen to the level of sophistication we need to revitalize tourism in the NMI. Simple common sense dictates that we need to move in tandem with the expectations of shifting needs of tourists. Imagine for a moment that you are a tourist from Japan planning a family vacation. I’m not sure that karaoke joints would be a good place to start with your children. Hello?
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Money begets money! Did someone make that up or is it just the figment of my imagination? Well, if we want more of it, let’s equally spend more for it. If you still have doubts, take a quick visit to Tumon on Guam. It should be an eye opener of how good and timely planning has benefited its tourism industry. Guam has done its homework! We haven’t lifted a finger!
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I understand that the next planned resort for Tinian revolves around family theme parks. It’s a good reinvention of traditional resorts. It’s a vision that should give families a place to kick back and relax. It would benefit both locals and tourists alike.
And it should be a good option for business executives to bring along the entire troop while attending important meetings. Hope the project pans out.